Department for Transport

Railways: Procurement

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential extra cost to projects in Control Period 6 and beyond in the event that the railway supply chain receives an insufficient volume of orders to be able to maintain its skilled workers.

Paul Maynard: In formulating plans for the next Control Period, the Transport Secretary has looked to balance a wide range of factors, including affordability and supply chain capability. We are acutely aware of the reliance of the railway on specialist resource held within the supply chain, and wish to ensure that funding is distributed appropriately to support the efficient delivery of CP6. As set out in the High Level Output Specification the Transport Secretary expects Network Rail to increase its efficiency and delivery capability across its portfolio of work during the Control Period and expects a strong and robust challenge from the independent economic Regulator (ORR), in its calculation of the efficiency of spend as part of the wider Periodic Review (PR18) process.

Crossrail 2 Line

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 June 2017 to Question 204, on Crossrail 2 Line, what the timescale is for the analysis referred to; and when the date of the next stage of the public consultation will be announced.

Paul Maynard: The Department’s analysis of the Strategic Outline Business Case for Crossrail 2 is one strand of the work we are currently progressing to inform decisions on the scheme, including on the appropriate timings of any public consultation. It sits alongside the work we have recently agreed with the Mayor of London to examine ways to improve affordability ahead of this autumn’s Budget.

Railway Stations: Finance

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the announcement of successful bids to the New Station Fund.

Paul Maynard: An announcement was made on 28th July 2017. The 5 successful bids for funds under the New Stations Fund scheme were: Bow Street (Wales), Portway Parkway (Bristol), Warrington West (Warrington), Horden Peterlee (North East England), Reading Green Park (Berkshire).

Bus Services: Concessions

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2017 to Question 70590, on bus services: concessions, whether it remains his Department's policy to not extend the statutory scheme to include peak travel.

Jesse Norman: The Government’s policy on concessionary bus travel remains unchanged, though my Department continues to engage on this issue on a regular basis with the Department for Work and Pensions and other Government Departments as well as local authorities and the transport sector.

Roads: Accidents

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on implementing eCall in all new vehicles in the UK by April 2018.

Jesse Norman: eCall will be required in all new types of cars and light commercial vehicles approved from 31 March 2018 in accordance with the EU regulation 2015/758.

Roads: Closures

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is taking steps to reduce the length of closures which occur on major roads and motorways after a collision; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: Highways England continues to improve the clearance times of incidents on the strategic road network. The duration of closures is closely monitored, with the aim to clear 85% of live lane incidents on motorways within 60 minutes. All incidents that fail this target are analysed to see where lessons can be learned. For the 2016-17 period Highways England achieved 85.93% and have subsequently set a new internal target of 87% for the 2017/18, demonstrating their continued determination to reduce delays and improve journeys for road users.

Heathrow Airport: Air Pollution

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of aircraft on air quality levels in the area surrounding Heathrow airport.

Mr John Hayes: There are 22 air quality monitoring sites in the area surrounding Heathrow Airport, with monitors measuring a variety of pollutants from all sources. Emissions from aircraft are a ground-level air quality concern when the aircraft are below an altitude of 1000 feet above the ground. Therefore while aircraft do affect air quality levels in the immediate vicinity of the airport, factors other than aircraft have a greater contributory effect.

Heathrow Airport

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of additional flight paths at Heathrow on levels of (a) noise, (b) air quality and (c) health in local communities.

Mr John Hayes: Alongside the publication of the Draft Airports National Policy Statement on 2 February 2017, the Department also published an Appraisal of Sustainability and Health Impact Analysis. The Department’s assessment of the potential impacts of a new runway at Heathrow on noise, air quality and health are set out in those documents.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the length of procurement period for classic-compatible trains required for operation on the HS2 network.

Paul Maynard: The procurement of the rolling stock for Phase 1 commenced in April of this year, with contract award planned to be in December 2019. Trains are anticipated to be delivered from Spring 2024 for testing of the HS2 infrastructure, with passenger services expected to commence in late 2026.

West Coast Railway Line

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding the Government plans to allocate for network improvements north of Crewe on the West Coast Mainline for Control Period 6.

Paul Maynard: On July 30th this year the Government set out its High Level Output Specification (HLOS). This identifies the priorities for investment in the railway in the next five year Control Period from 2019. The Government wishes to assure itself that the volumes and costs of operations and maintenance activity are reasonable and affordable in order to fulfil its statutory role to set a Statement of Funds Available (SoFA). Once this work has taken place, Government will confirm the SoFA in October 2017. There is also an emerging requirement to renew and significantly enhance Network Rail assets in Crewe and between there and Weaver Junction where Government is working with HS2 and Network Rail to produce an integrated solution. The Government is committed to ensuring that every part of Britain benefits from our investment in the railways. Improvements in rail services can be delivered by new trains and a range of infrastructure improvements. The Government keeps under close review what options will ensure the maximum value to taxpayers, passengers and freight users.

Luton Airport: Noise

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received seeking reductions in levels of noise pollution from people living under Luton Airport's flight path.

Mr John Hayes: The Secretary of State has received several representations from both members of the public and MPs about aircraft noise from Luton Airport. The government has also recently consulted on UK Airspace Policy and there were numerous consultation responses from individuals concerning Luton Airport. The government is considering these responses and will announce final policy decisions in due course. The Civil Aviation Authority is also due to launch a post-implementation review of recent flight path changes at Luton in September.

West Coast Railway Line

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what network improvements are planned to take place north of Crewe on the West Coast Mainline within what remains of Control Period 5.

Paul Maynard: We are upgrading the West coast main line power supply to support an improved passenger service and to improve freight capacity.

High Speed Trains

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the average journey time from Crewe to Glasgow on a high speed classic-compatible train.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department uses for the benchmark journey time from London to (a) Glasgow and (b) Edinburgh.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the average journey time from London to (a) Glasgow and (b) Edinburgh after HS2 Phase 2a Midlands to Crewe opens.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the average journey time from London to (a) Glasgow and (b) Edinburgh after HS2 Phase 1 opens.

Paul Maynard: The timetable for HS2 services is still being developed, and is subject to change. However, current benchmark journey times without HS2, and with the various phases of HS2, to Glasgow and Edinburgh can be found in the HS2 Phase 2 Strategic Case (July 2017) - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/629393/high-speed-two-phase-two-strategic-case.pdf

Airports: National Policy Statements

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the effect of the Government's strategy to address climate change will be on the draft National Policy Statement on airports.

Mr John Hayes: The Government agrees with the Airports Commission’s assessment that a new runway at Heathrow could be delivered within the UK’s climate change obligations. As stated by the Minister of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy earlier in the year, the Government's strategy for addressing climate change, the Clean Growth Plan, will be published following the summer recess and therefore it is not possible to comment on its contents at this time. However, l can assure you that the analysis supporting the Government's preference for expansion at Heathrow considers a range of scenarios for how the carbon impacts of the scheme could be mitigated in order to meet our obligations on climate change.

Aviation

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to revise the Aviation Policy Framework.

Mr John Hayes: The Government published its plan to develop a new strategic approach for UK aviation on Friday, 21 July 2017, which can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/631036/aviation-strategy-call-for-evidence.pdf

Airports

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of improvements to surface access infrastructure at airports in (a) London and (b) the UK.

Mr John Hayes: The Government expects, as set out in its Aviation Policy Framework 2013, that the cost of upgrading or enhancing road, rail or other transport networks or services where there is a need to cope with additional passengers travelling to and from an expanding or growing airport should be met by the promoter. Where proposed projects have wider beneficiaries, the Government will consider the need for additional public funding on a case by case basis.

Heathrow Airport

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the proposed expansion of Heathrow airport.

Mr John Hayes: Heathrow Airport Limited is privately owned and has committed to meet the costs of developing and implementing the Northwest Runway scheme. Heathrow Airport Limited has also committed to meet the costs of any surface access proposals that are essential to deliver airport expansion including works on the M25, the A4 and the A3044. Where proposed surface access projects have wider beneficiaries, such as the Western Rail and Southern Rail proposals, the Government will consider funding a proportion based on benefits for airport users and other beneficiaries in line with our Aviation Policy Framework.

Airports: National Policy Statements

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the report of Sir Jeremy Sullivan on the public consultation on the Airports National Policy Statement.

Mr John Hayes: Sir Jeremy Sullivan’s report on the consultation process in relation to the draft Airports National Policy Statement was published on 07 September 2017 and is available on .GOV.UKhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-airports-national-policy-statement-sir-jeremy-sullivans-consultation-review

Heathrow Airport

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost of surface access improvements if Heathrow airport is expanded.

Mr John Hayes: Heathrow Airport Limited have committed to meet the costs of any surface access proposals that are essential to deliver airport expansion including works on the M25, the A4 and the A3044. Where proposed surface access projects have wider beneficiaries, such as the Western Rail and Southern Rail proposals, the Government will consider funding a proportion based on benefits for airport users and other beneficiaries in line with our Aviation Policy Framework. The Airports Commission estimated that the potential costs of the surface access provision for a northwest runway were around £5bn but recognised that the finalised details, and therefore costs, would be determined as part of the statutory planning process.

Public Transport: Disability

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 8 March 2017 to Question 67195, on public transport: disability, when his Department plans to publish the draft Accessibility Action Plan.

Paul Maynard: The draft Accessibility Action Plan was published for consultation on Thursday 24 August, and will be open for comment until Wednesday 15 November 2017. It is available in alternative formats at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/draft-transport-accessibility-action-plan The draft Plan sets out the Government’s proposed strategy to address the gaps in existing provision of transport services which serve as a barrier to people with disabilities. We expect to publish a final Accessibility Action Plan in 2018, following consideration and analysis of the consultation responses.

Cherwell Valley Railway Line: Electrification

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when work will be completed on the electrification of the railway line between Oxford and Didcot Parkway to be completed.

Paul Maynard: Network Rail is delivering the Great Western Electrification Programme to the dates set out in the latest publication of their Enhancement Delivery plan. This includes completing electrification of the Great Western Mainline between Oxford and Didcot by the end of Control Period 6, subject to ongoing assessment and investment decisions. This is so that passengers and taxpayers get maximum value and so that passenger benefits are delivered in the best way possible. Network Rail’s Enhancement Delivery plan can be found at the following link:https://16cbgt3sbwr8204sf92da3xxc5m-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Enhancements-Delivery-Plan-June-2017.pdf

A34: Wolvercote

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will monitor noise levels affecting residents living near the A34 in Wolvercote between the Peartree flyover and the Botley junction.

Jesse Norman: The Road Investment Strategy provided funding for Highways England to address historic noise issues on the Strategic Road Network with a target to improve 1150 Noise Important Areas by 2020. Highways England does not routinely undertake noise monitoring but instead uses the noise contours and results provided by DEFRA’s noise modelling. Noise data is published on the DEFRA website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/open-data-strategic-noise-mapping. I will ask senior officials from Highways England to make contact with the Hon Member’s office to understand the concerns of residents on the A34 in Wolvercote better.

Skipton-Colne Railway Line

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the benefits of re-opening the Skipton to Colne railway.

Paul Maynard: Where connectivity needs are the key objective, we look to the local authorities concerned to take the first step in evaluating benefits and prioritising available resources. Local partners in the North share a desire to improve connectivity across the Pennines and their East-West Connectivity Study suggested there will be economic benefits in doing so. They will be actively involved in the Transport for the North’s Central Pennines strategic development corridor study to develop an outline programme and business case.

London Underground: Overcrowding

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the level of passenger overcrowding on the London Underground.

Jesse Norman: Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and it is for him to determine policy and monitor use on the London transport network.

Heathrow Airport: RAF Northolt

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the interaction of airspace between an expanded Heathrow and RAF Northolt.

Mr John Hayes: The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) undertook initial fast time simulation work for the Airports Commission to assess the possible implications arising from the indicative airspace design for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. This work took account of the likely air traffic demands of airports across the South East, including RAF Northolt. Airspace design proposals for a third runway at Heathrow Airport will need to follow the Civil Aviation Authority’s airspace change process. This is a thorough process requiring extensive consultation with communities and other stakeholders, including airports that may be affected by the proposal.

RAF Northolt: Aviation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether RAF Northolt meets civilian aeronautical regulations for the commercial flights that operate from there.

Mr John Hayes: RAF Northolt is a Government aerodrome regulated by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). CAA Safety Notice SN-2015/007 sets out the requirements for civil operators wishing to use Government aerodromes. Civil operators wishing to use RAF Northolt must satisfy themselves that the aerodrome is adequate in all respects for their use, obtain prior permission from the MoD, and familiarise themselves with the specific operating conditions outlined in the RAF Northolt aerodrome manual and the UK Aeronautical Information Publication.

Taxis: Disability

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2017 to Question 69958, if he will consult on the proposals that were contained in the Disability Equality Training (Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Drivers) Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Mr John Hayes: With reference to the answer of 20 April 2017 to Question 69958, the Department plans to consult on revised Best Practice Guidance for local licensing authorities later this year, which will include strengthened recommendations relating to the provision of disability awareness training for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers.

London Underground

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) TFL on expanding and upgrading the London Underground network.

Jesse Norman: Ministers and officials at the Department for Transport hold regular meetings with the Mayor of London, officials in his office and Transport for London. A range of topics are discussed at these meetings including the upgrade of the underground network. The most recent meeting between the Secretary of State and the Mayor was held on 18 July.

London Underground

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent he has had with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) TFL on capacity of and crowding on the London Underground.

Jesse Norman: Ministers and officials from the Department for Transport hold regular meetings with the Mayor of London, officials in his office and officials from Transport for London. A range of issues may be discussed at these meetings. The most recent meeting between the Secretary of State and the Mayor was on 18 July.

Crossrail 2 Line

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects to make a decision on future funding for Crossrail 2.

Paul Maynard: The Government recognises the case for capacity improvements in London and the wider South East, such as those that Crossrail 2 could deliver. We are currently analysing the Strategic Outline Business Case, submitted by Transport for London, to ensure it is a robust investment with a fair and credible funding plan, as recommended by the National Infrastructure Commission. Our next steps to deliver those capacity improvements, including any decisions on future funding for the proposed scheme, will be decided when that analysis is complete.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Non-domestic Rates

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 July 2017 to Question 5262, on non-domestic rates, how many responses were received to the consultation.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 July 2017 to Question 5262, on non-domestic rates, when the Government plans to publish a response to the consultation.

Mr Marcus Jones: A total of 228 responses were received to the Further Consultation on 100 per cent Business Rates Retention; 187 from local government, 7 from local authority associations, and 34 from other interested parties. The Department for Communities and Local Government is currently conducting analysis of these responses. This will inform further development of business rates retention policy. We are currently considering how this work will progress in the wider context of further rates retention policy.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

EURATOM

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate the Government has made of the number of staff required for an agency to replace Euratom; and whether there is a sufficient number of workers in the UK with the appropriate level of skills and expertise to carry out the roles required in such a successor agency.

Richard Harrington: We are working closely with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) to ensure that they will be in a position to take on the role and responsibilities required to meet our international safeguards and nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

EURATOM

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many cases involving Euratrom have been taken to the European Court of Justice for arbitration since that agency was established.

Richard Harrington: The Department does not hold information on the number of cases involving Euratom taken to the European Court of Justice.

BMW: Iron and Steel

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what information his Department holds on how much British steel will be used by BMW to manufacture the e-Mini at Cowley.

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations he has made to BMW on the use of British steel to construct the e-Mini at Cowley.

Claire Perry: Holding answer received on 07 September 2017



We have regular discussions with BMW and more generally the Government is working with UK based car manufacturers to increase the level of local content in UK built vehicles.Automotive Council research published in June 2017, showed that in value terms, the content sourced by UK car manufacturers increased from 36% in 2011, to 44% in 2017.

Iron and Steel

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to publish his Department's paper, Future Capabilities of the UK Steel Sector.

Claire Perry: Holding answer received on 07 September 2017



Work on the Future Capabilities of the UK Steel Sector study is currently ongoing in consultation with the steel industry, and the final report is not yet complete. The Department will look to publish the findings once the work has concluded.Government has continued to work closely with the sector, the unions and devolved administrations during the summer to support the UK steel sector develop a long-term viable solution for the UK steel industry.

Economic Growth: Environment Protection

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he will publish the Green Growth Plan.

Claire Perry: This is an important plan for the future. It is essential that we take the time to get it right. We are working to ensure that our Clean Growth Strategy is ambitious and robust, and will publish it shortly.

Motor Vehicles: Fuels

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs before the announcement of a ban on petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040.

Claire Perry: The Department works closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in developing the Government’s response to the shared challenges of improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Government announced an intention to end the sale of all new conventional cars and vans by 2040 as part of the ‘UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations’ (July 2017). The Department engaged closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for Transport and other relevant departments to draft and agree this plan, including at ministerial level.

Energy: Billing

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government plans to introduce a safeguard tariff cap.

Margot James: The detriment to retail energy customers on poor value standard variable tariffs, which was identified by the Competition and Market Authority as averaging £1.4bn a year, must be addressed.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to the Chief Executive of Ofgem asking him to advise on what action the regulator intends to take to safeguard consumers on the poorest value tariffs and to consider the future of standard variable tariffs. The Secretary of State will consider further action in the light of Ofgem’s proposals and remains prepared to legislate if necessary.

Mergers and Takeovers

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress the Government is making on its plans for new policies on mergers and takeovers; and if he will make a statement.

Margot James: The Government will publish the outcome of its review in due course.

Energy: Billing

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress the Government is making on its plans for the introduction of a cap on energy bills; and if he will make a statement.

Margot James: The detriment to retail energy customers on poor value standard variable tariffs, which was identified by the Competition and Market Authority as averaging £1.4bn a year, must be addressed.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to the Chief Executive of Ofgem asking him to advise on what action the regulator intends to take to safeguard consumers on the poorest value tariffs and to consider the future of standard variable tariffs. The Secretary of State will consider further action in the light of Ofgem’s proposals and remains prepared to legislate if necessary.

Energy: Low Incomes

Sir David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much money energy companies have spent on assisting low income households in each of the last five years.

Margot James: Larger domestic energy suppliers have been required to provide assistance to households under a number of supplier statutory obligations in the last five years. The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), the Community Energy Savings Programme[1] (CESP) and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) have required energy suppliers to provide energy efficiency measures to homes. CESP required measures to be installed in low income areas[2]. Under CERT at least 40% of carbon savings had to be delivered in homes of a Priority Group of low income and vulnerable households. ECO has had an element aimed primarily at low income and vulnerable households and from April this year that was increased to 70% of the obligation. In addition, the Warm Home Discount (WHD) primarily requires energy bill rebates to be made to low income and vulnerable households each winter.Spending under ECO and Warm Home Discount 2012/132013/142014/152015/162016/17WHD[3] £290m£283m£326m£315m£323m (est.)ECO[4] (Affordable Warmth spending[5])£7m£630m£175m£206m£242mTotal:£297m£913m£501m£521m£565m Although energy suppliers continued spending under CERT until 2012/13 and CESP until 2013/14 we do not have the data on the proportion of spending which went to low income households.Energy suppliers have the ability to determine how to meet their obligations over designated time periods rather than following set delivery in any single year. They can frontload or backload delivery which affects the spend profile.Energy suppliers have also provided direct financial and other assistance to their low income customers over the past five years but we do not have data on the value of that assistance. [1] CESP was also an obligation on large electricity generators.[2] The legislation required measures to be delivered in specific geographical areas (Lower Super Output Areas in England and Wales, and Data Zones in Scotland) selected using the Income Domain of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) in England, Scotland and Wales. In England the lowest 10% of areas ranked in the IMD qualified and in Scotland and Wales the lowest 15% qualified.[3] Source: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/social-programmes/warm-home-discount/warm-home-discount-reports-and-statistics[4] ECO started in January 2013. Spending by quarter: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/58425/certfinalreport2013300413pdf[5] The Affordable Warmth Group is made up of low income and vulnerable households.

Housing: Energy

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to bring all homes in England and Wales to at least an Energy Performance Certificate C rating by 2035.

Claire Perry: The average Energy Performance Certificate of homes in England in Wales has improved year on year thanks to government policies, including building regulations and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). As of 2015, almost 79 per cent of homes in England had an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or better compared to 39 per cent in 2005. In April 2017 the government launched ECO: Help to Heat. We expect ECO: Help to Heat to upgrade the energy efficiency of well over 300,000 homes per year. We already have regulations in place that mean that from April 2018 all private domestic and non-domestic landlords will need to ensure that their properties reach at least an EPC E rating before granting a tenancy to new or existing tenants.

Directors: Staff

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to give employees of a listed company the right to be represented on the board.

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to require staff representation on company remuneration committees.

Margot James: The Government has invited the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) to consult on proposals to require companies subject to the Corporate Governance Code to adopt, on a comply or explain basis, one of three employee representation mechanisms, including the appointment of an employee director.The Government has also invited the FRC to consult on new measures through the Code to require remuneration committees to engage with the wider workforce to explain the relationship between executive remuneration and wider employee pay and incentives.It will be for individual companies to determine whether such engagement is best achieved through the appointment of any employee director to remuneration committee, or through other mechanisms such as employee advisory councils. Companies will be expected to set out the mechanism adopted.

Domestic Appliances: Counterfeit Manufacturing

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding his Department has allocated to Trading Standards services in (a) Scotland, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Wales and (d) England to tackle counterfeit electrical goods being imported into the UK in each of the last five years.

Margot James: National Trading Standards receive £13.25 million per year from BEIS to prioritise and coordinate national and cross-local authority boundary enforcement in England and Wales, including action to stop the sale of counterfeit electrical goods. Trading Standards Scotland receive £1.25m for similar activity in Scotland.National Trading Standards ‘Operation Jasper’ resulted in the seizure of over £1m in counterfeit goods including luxury brands, dangerous electrical equipment and unsafe cosmetic products in 2016/17.

Energy: EU Law

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he has taken to (a) ensure and (b) monitor implementation of Article 10 Financial incentives and market barriers of Evaluation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: Holding answer received on 07 September 2017



Implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU is led by my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, though of course BEIS has a key role in supporting this.Article 10 of the EPBD requires Member States to consider the most relevant finance and other instruments to catalyse the energy performance of buildings in the light of national circumstances, and to inform the Commission of these measures. As allowed for by the Directive, the UK has set out its list of measures in the Energy Efficiency Action Plans submitted to the Commission, most recently in 2017. The 2017 report can be found here:https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/uk_neeap_2017.pdf

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Israel and Occupied Territories: Detainees

Kevin Hollinrake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart about human rights violations committed against children in military custody in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Alistair Burt: ​I raised our concerns over the issue of children in detention with the Israeli authorities during my recent visit to Israel between 22-23 August.

Yemen: Human Rights

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on progress made on UN Human Rights Council resolution 33/16.

Alistair Burt: We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Yemen. Regrettably, human rights abuses continue on a large scale. Conflict has had a significant impact on civilians. There continue to be reports of arbitrary detentions, the use of child soldiers and persecution of minorities.The UK welcomed UN Human Rights Council's resolution 33/16.We call on all parties to respect human rights in Yemen and support the work of the National Comimission in investigating abuses.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2017 to Question 4993, whether he has (a) requested and (b) been provided with evidence from the Saudi authorities establishing where the helicopter that fired on a boat carrying Somali civilians off the coast of Yemen on 16 March 2017 was made; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: As set out in the response to PQ 4993, the Saudi-led Coalition have their own procedures for investigations, details of which they announced on 31 January 2016. We have encouraged the Saudi-led Coalition's Joint Incidents Assessment Team to investigate this incident, considering all the evidence available and to publish their findings.

Nigeria: Boko Haram

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the Nigerian Government in protecting minority groups vulnerable to persecution by Boko Haram.

Rory Stewart: Boko Haram have led a brutal campaign of violence against civilians in the Lake Chad region. UK assistance is designed to help those affected, and assist Nigeria and its regional partners to tackle the threat. During their visit to Nigeria last week the Foreign Secretary and the International Development Secretary saw firsthand some of the support that the UK is providing. The conflict in the region requires a comprehensive response, tackling the threat posed by Boko Haram and the humanitarian crisis through the full range of security, political and humanitarian, and in the longer term, development work. The UK is a lead player, providing a substantial package of military, intelligence and development support to Nigeria. This includes training for the Nigerian armed forces and £5 million for the Multinational Joint Task Force, the regional force tackling Boko Haram. The UK was one of the first donors to respond to the humanitarian crisis in North East Nigeria and we have scaled up our support from £1 million in 2014 to £100 million this year. During their visit the Foreign Secretary and International Development Secretary announced an additional £200 million of humanitarian aid over the next four years.

West Bank: Visits Abroad

Mr William Wragg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has plans for UK diplomats to visit Khan Al Ahmar in the West Bank.

Alistair Burt: The Government is gravely concerned by proposals to demolish the Bedouin village of Khan al Ahmar. Officials from our Consulate-General in Jerusalem have visited Khan Al Ahmar on multiple occasions in recent years. ​I understand that officials from our Consulate-General plan to visit Khan Al Ahmar before the next court hearing.

Tanzania: Visits Abroad

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on which date a Minister from his Department last visited the Republic of Tanzania; and what issues were discussed during that visit.

Rory Stewart: I made my first visit to Tanzania on 22-23 August. During my visit I met President Magufuli and Foreign Minister Mahiga with whom I discussed trade, development, good governance, the Commonwealth and tackling transnational organised crime and corruption.

Central African Republic: Politics and Government

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of (a) inter-community violence, (b) political instability and (c) the risk of genocide in the Central African Republic.

Rory Stewart: We remain deeply concerned by the violence in the Central African Republic (CAR). Despite political progress in 2016, and good co-operation with the international community from the CAR government, the security situation outside of the capital city Bangui is deteriorating. This is having a heavy impact on the civilian population with thousands killed and tens of thousands displaced in 2017 alone. We are aware of United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary General Stephen O'Brien's report, which suggested that CAR is presenting "early warning signs of genocide". It is true that the violence in CAR is often divided along religious lines, however, social, economic and political factors have been the primary drivers. We continue to call on the CAR government to implement the National Plan for Peacebuilding and Recovery, and will also be addressing, with our international partners, the human rights and humanitarian problems in CAR at the UN Human Rights Council later this month.

Uganda: Violence

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations his Department has made to the Ugandan authorities and the UK's Ugandan High Commissioner on repression and violence in Northern Uganda.

Rory Stewart: As part of our dialogue with the Government of Uganda on all aspects of democratic governance and human rights, we continue to stress the importance of resolving disputes fairly, peacefully and with respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The UK Government also supports projects in Northern Uganda related to the protection of land rights and community accountability.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has had discussions during the summer adjournment of the House with (a) Iranian authorities and (b) EU counterparts on the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Alistair Burt: When I visited Tehran in August, ​I raised all our British/Iranian dual-national detainees, including Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, with the Iranian Foreign Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister. Our Ambassador in Tehran also regularly discusses these cases with our EU partners and the Iranian authorities.

Burma: Foreign Relations

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last met his counterpart in Myanmar; and what was discussed at that meeting.

Mark Field: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 07 September 2017.The correct answer should have been:

​My Rt Hon Friend the Foreign Secretary met his counterpart Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma during his visit in January 2017 and during Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to the UK in May 2017. The Foreign Secretary also spoke to Aung San Suu Kyi on 7 September 2017. On both all three occasions they discussed a range of issues, including the situation in Rakhine State and the Burmese Peace Process.

Mark Field: ​My Rt Hon Friend the Foreign Secretary met his counterpart Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma during his visit in January 2017 and during Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to the UK in May 2017. The Foreign Secretary also spoke to Aung San Suu Kyi on 7 September 2017. On both all three occasions they discussed a range of issues, including the situation in Rakhine State and the Burmese Peace Process.

Rwanda: Politics and Government

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of reports of disappearances, political arrests and assassinations and government brutality in Rwanda.

Rory Stewart: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes all credible reports of disappearances, political arrests, assassinations and government brutality in Rwanda seriously. The British High Commission in Kigali is closely monitoring the investigations into Diane Rigwara and her family following their recent detention. We remain concerned about the limited democratic space and constrained civil and political rights in Rwanda, and regularly raise these concerns with the Rwandan Government.

Leader of the House

Short Money

Lady Hermon: To ask the Leader of the House, if she will amend the Resolution on Short Money to support independent members of Parliament who have sworn the oath; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: Short Money is funding to assist an opposition party in carrying out its Parliamentary business. Under the resolution of the House of 26 May 1999, financial assistance is not provided to independent Members of Parliament.It is the Government’s view that this issue of Short Money for independent Members of Parliament is primarily a matter for the House itself to resolve.

Bills

Cat Smith: To ask the Leader of the House, when the Government plans to publish the draft Bills outlined in the Queen's Speech.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government has set out an ambitious programme of 27 bills and drafts bills and noted that additional bills will be announced as the session progresses. The timescales for forthcoming bills and draft bills will be announced in the usual manner in due course.

Leader of the House of Commons: Vacancies

Cat Smith: To ask the Leader of the House, how many vacant posts there were in her Office on 24 July (a) 2017, (b) 2016, (c) 2015.

Andrea Leadsom: The Cabinet Office hold quarterly returns on staffing. On 30 June 2017 there were no vacancies recorded in the office. Unfortunately we do not hold information from previous years.

Leader of the House of Commons: Ministerial Responsibility

Cat Smith: To ask the Leader of the House, if she will publish the Ministerial responsibilities of the Ministers in her office.

Andrea Leadsom: This information is held publicly on the Gov.uk website. https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/leader-of-the-house-of-commons

Oral Statements

Cat Smith: To ask the Leader of the House, what discussions she has had with Ministers on the timely delivery of copies of Oral Statements to the Official Opposition.

Andrea Leadsom: It is important for members of the Opposition to have advance notice of statements and Ministers try to ensure as far as possible that Opposition members have the chance to see statements at the earliest possible opportunity.

Times of Sittings: House of Commons

Cat Smith: To ask the Leader of the House, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the current sitting times in the House of Commons; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: Sitting times are decided by the House. They are regularly reviewed by the Procedure Committee and decisions are made based on the options recommended.

Oral Questions: Westminster Hall

Cat Smith: To ask the Leader of the House, if she will bring forward proposals for cross-cutting questions to be taken in Westminster Hall.

Andrea Leadsom: There are currently no plans to bring forward proposals for cross-cutting questions to be taken in Westminster Hall.

e-petitions

Cat Smith: To ask the Leader of the House, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the e-petitions system; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The new e-petitions system has been running for over two years now and the Government is pleased with the level of engagement that it has prompted among the public. The Parliamentary e-petitions site is jointly owned by the Government and the House of Commons, therefore any assessment of potential changes to the system would have to be agreed between the Government and the House. Individual Departments are responsible for the content and timeliness of responses to e-petitions and the Leader's office has general Government oversight of e-petitions.

Legislation: Parliamentary Scrutiny

Cat Smith: To ask the Leader of the House, what plans she has for the parliamentary scrutiny of draft legislation.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government has set out an ambitious programme of 27 bills and drafts bills and will ensure that Parliament will be able to perform its scrutiny function in the usual way.

Private Members Bills

David Linden: To ask the Leader of the House, if she will make it her policy to bring forward proposals on timetabling for Private Members' Bills.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government currently has no plans to change the timetabling of private members' bills.

E-petitions

Jon Trickett: To ask the Leader of the House, for what reasons petitions on the e-petitions website were not carried over from the beginning of purdah on 3 May 2017.

Andrea Leadsom: The new Petitions Committee will consider petitions which reached the 100,000 threshold for debate as soon as it is set up. As the petitions system is part of the official work of Parliament, it stops when Parliament dissolves. This applies not just to petitions but also to other kinds of business, such as parliamentary questions and early day motions.

E-petitions

Jon Trickett: To ask the Leader of the House, how many times the e-petitions website was visited between 3 May 2017 to 4 September 2017.

Andrea Leadsom: In the period of 3 May 2017 to 4 September 2017 the e-petitions website was visited 1,000,647 times.

Ministry of Defence

Defence: Procurement

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many defence procurement contracts went over budget in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014, (f) 2015, (g) 2016 and (h) 2017.

Harriett Baldwin: The Ministry of Defence awards thousands of contracts each year, with expenditure against each closely monitored by the relevant Project Team. Information about these is published in the Trade Industry & Contracts Statistical Bulletin which is available at the following link:http://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-trade-industry-and-contracts-2016

RAF Northolt

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the proportion of time RAF service personnel spend on their military duties at RAF Northolt.

Harriett Baldwin: RAF Northolt is a military airbase and RAF personnel are deployed there on military duties. Where RAF personnel support civilian aircraft movements, this is within irreducible spare capacity for their functions and their existing military duty hours.

Porton Down: Animal Experiments

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether animal testing is conducted at Porton Down.

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will prohibit animal testing at his Department's facilities.

Harriett Baldwin: The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down, Wiltshire, is licensed by the Home Office to conduct the Ministry of Defence's in-house research involving the use of animals.The majority of the animals used at Dstl are employed in the development of new vaccines, treatments or medical procedures. Every procedure is undertaken in strict accordance with the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Alternatives to avoid animal testing are considered during the outset of the design of each research programme.

Army Foundation College

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Military Police investigations into staff at AFC Harrogate there have been in the last 10 years; what the (a) related allegations and (b) outcomes were in each of those investigations; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 07 September 2017.The correct answer should have been:

Data on the outcomes of Royal Military Police investigations over the last ten years will take time to collate. Information relating to disciplinary action is currently unlkownunavailable. I will write shortly to provide the data requested.The Army does not tolerate unacceptable behaviour by any personnel, including staff and Junior Soldiers at the Army Foundation College, in any form. All allegations are treated very seriously and investigated. As part of our duty of care, instructors at the College will normally be suspended until an investigation has been carried out, or depending on the circumstances, they may be removed from post without prejudice and reassigned. As a result of the misconduct investigation and findings, the without prejudice removal will then be classified as blameworthy or non-blameworthy, and dealt with accordingly.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Data on the outcomes of Royal Military Police investigations over the last ten years will take time to collate. Information relating to disciplinary action is currently unlkownunavailable. I will write shortly to provide the data requested.The Army does not tolerate unacceptable behaviour by any personnel, including staff and Junior Soldiers at the Army Foundation College, in any form. All allegations are treated very seriously and investigated. As part of our duty of care, instructors at the College will normally be suspended until an investigation has been carried out, or depending on the circumstances, they may be removed from post without prejudice and reassigned. As a result of the misconduct investigation and findings, the without prejudice removal will then be classified as blameworthy or non-blameworthy, and dealt with accordingly.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits: Payments

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library a memorandum setting out in respect of (a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) employment and support allowance and (c) universal credit (i) those prompts within the computer system designed to alert staff to cases in which claimants are waiting more than 10 days for the determination of their claims and (ii) the circumstances in which those cases are reported to managers.

Damian Hinds: Holding answer received on 07 September 2017



The assessment period and payment structure of Universal Credit creates a fixed period between date of entitlement and the first payment. Advances are available for people who are in financial need during the initial period before their first payment.The Universal Credit Full Service digital system ensures that all agents and their managers are automatically aware in real time of any claimants on their caseload for whom a payment is due to be paid, or of any claimant for whom a payment will be due shortly, for which there are outstanding actions required. For Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseekers Allowance, the relevant computer system alerts staff in the event that any claim has not been processed and made ready for payment seven days after receipt of the claim. The target for processing a claim ready for payment is 10 days and, every day, the computer automatically produces a list of cases that are approaching that target to help ensure cases are put in payment on time.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Agriculture: Subsidies

Deidre  Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much was paid in agricultural subsidy payments to maintain grouse moors in each of the last five years.

George Eustice: Subsidies are not paid to support shooting activities. Grouse moors are also used by farmers for grazing; specific data on payments to farmers who maintain grouse moors is not held as payments under the Common Agricultural Policy are made to eligible claimants on the basis of the area of agricultural land they own, not the activities which may take place on that land. Payments that farmers in moorland areas receive under the Common Agricultural Policy help them maintain our moorlands and deliver a significant boost for tourism and the rural economy in these areas.

Rivers: Sewage

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to prevent the pollution of rivers by water companies through the disposal of raw sewage.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: There are currently no routine discharges of raw sewage by water companies in England. Discharges from sewage treatment works must comply with permits issued under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (2010) by the Environment Agency. These permits are designed to protect the environment with the provision of sewage treatment to ensure compliance with relevant environmental directives such as the Bathing Water Directive and the Water Framework Directive. It is an offence for operators not to comply with their permit conditions. Discharges of raw sewage can occasionally occur during pollution incidents. Such incidents may happen if equipment breaks down or if there is damage to or blockages in the sewers allowing raw sewage to enter the environment. In such cases the Environment Agency is notified and the water company is required to mitigate the impact of the pollution. In the most serious cases the Environment Agency can take enforcement action, including prosecution or civil sanctions.

Home Office

West Midlands Fire Service

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (a) what the budget was and (b) how many firefighters were employed by West Midlands Fire Service in each of the last seven years.

Mr Nick Hurd: The West Midlands fire and rescue service’s annual operational expenditure to 2015-16 and budget for 2016-17, also available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing The number of full time equivalent firefighters for West Midlands fire and rescue service at 31 March for each year are as follows, also available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fire-statistics-data-tables

Stalking: Wales

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reports of stalking were made to each police force in Wales in (a) 2015 and (b) 2016; and how many of each were investigated by the police.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office collects data on the number of stalking offences recorded by the police forces in England and Wales. Information on these offences can be found in the Home Office Open Data Tables for police recorded crime, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables. We expect the police to investigate all crimes that are reported to them. All forces will suspend crime investigations if, after initial investigation, they conclude that there are no further lines of enquiry to pursue because there is no evidence trail or witnesses. These decisions are an operational matter for forces, but investigations can be reopened at any time should further evidence come to light. Information on the outcomes of offences recorded by the police is routinely published by the Home Office and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/crime-outcomes-in-england-and-wales-statistics

Emergency Services: Mobile Radios

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the number of masts built using state aid that can be shared by all mobile network operators before the emergency services mobile communications programme begins.

Mr Nick Hurd: In delivering the Emergency Services Network (ESN), the mobile network operator EE is delivering up to 291 sites funded by the Programme and upgrading its entire existing network, including deploying 4G spectrum in rural areas. The Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) will deliver approximately 300 further sites (known as the “Extended Area Services” (EAS) sites) in the most remote and rural areas of Great Britain. EE has indicated that they aim to provide commercial services from all the new sites that they are building for ESN and the EAS sites although this may be dependent on the backhaul technologies used at sites to connect the site to EE’s telecommunications system. Under the terms of the State Aid decision for ESN, any ESN site where EE offers a commercial service must be made available to the other UK mobile operators and interested parties to provide their own a service on an equal and non-discriminatory basis. EE has indicated that for all the sites they are building for ESN, they are providing detailed information to the mobile network operators on the locations once sites for new masts are legally acquired and planning permission has been granted. This includes additional sites that EE are funding as well as those funded by the Programme. For EAS sites, the principal objective is to provide coverage to meet the needs of the emergency services, but the Home Office is working with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and DCMS to identify any proposed mast locations which could improve mobile coverage in future, with a view to ensuring these are built to a specification which could accommodate multiple operators. The proposed site locations have been shared with the Scottish and Welsh Governments. Planning applications due to be submitted throughout 2017 will confirm and make public the precise locations of these sites.

Cybercrime

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to ensure that each police service in England and Wales invests in training on the prioritisation, investigation and evidence-gathering for digital crime and abuse.

Mr Nick Hurd: The cyber threats we face continue to grow in scale and sophistication. This is why the National Cyber Security Strategy 2016-2021 is supported by £1.9billion of transformational investment. Through the National Cyber Security Programme (NCSP), this Government continues to invest in law enforcement capabilities at the national, regional and local levels to ensure delivery agencies have the capacity to deal with the increasing volume and sophistication of cyber crime. The College of Policing Cyber Digital Career Pathway Project will create a Cyber Digital Investigation Profession across law enforcement providing a career pathway and professional certification for professionals at the core of digital investigations – setting the industry standards. With £4.6m from the Police Transformation Fund (PTF) 2016-17 the NPCC set up the Digital Policing Portfolio (DPP) to help provide a step-change in digital capability, equipping forces with the tools to police effectively in a digital age and protect the public from digital crime. In addition, the Police Transformation Fund awarded £1.5m to the ‘Crystallise’ project; ‘Defining the Digital Intelligence & Investigations Service Model for Local Policing’. This aims to make Digital Intelligence and Investigation part of day-to-day local policing by creating a service model.Individual police forces are responsible for ensuring that their officers and staff have the necessary training to do their job. The College of Policing supports forces by setting standards for professional practice, supported by the best available evidence, and ensures that those working in policing have access to the right training to meet those standards.

Safer Neighbourhood Teams: Finance

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether police budgets in England and Wales for Safer Neighbourhood teams were ring-fenced in (a) 2010 and (b) 2017.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Neighbourhood Policing Fund was rolled into core Government funding in 2013-14. This provided greater flexibility for Chief Officers, working with democratically elected Police and Crime Commissioners, to determine how to use their resources in line with local priorities.

Mental Illness: Police Custody

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2017 to Question 3125, on mental illness: police custody, when the 2016-17 data on police cells being used as a place of safety will be made available.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her Department's policy to disaggregate between children and adults in the collection of data on police cells being used as a place of safety in detentions under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office has collected data from police forces on the number of persons detained under section 135 and section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 on a mandatory basis since April 2016. The data collection also requires forces to supply data on the number of times police custody has been used as a place of safety following a detention under the Mental Health Act, broken down by whether the person being detained is under 18 years of age, or 18 years and older. The data covering the 2016/17 time period is due to be published in the next edition of the ‘Police powers, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin, which is scheduled for release in the autumn, and will be available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales

Antisocial Behaviour: South Yorkshire

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reports of anti-social behaviour were made in connection with mopeds  in (a) Barnsley East and (b) South Yorkshire in each of the last two years.

Mr Nick Hurd: Anti-social behaviour incidents recorded by the police are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and can be found here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/crimeinenglandandwalesbulletintables

Antisocial Behaviour: Motorcycles

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police chases of mopeds were authorised in (a) 2015 and (b) 2016.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police chases of mopeds occurred in (a) 2015 and (b) 2016.

Mr Nick Hurd: Decisions on how to enforce road traffic offences, including on when to initiate a pursuit, are operational matters for the police, taking into account each particular set of circumstances. Any general policy within a force is a matter for the force’s Chief Officer, who will decide how to deploy available resources in dealing with all the issues for which the force is responsible, taking into account any specific local problems and demands.

Compulsorily Detained Mental Patients

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance is issued to police officers to make them aware of appropriate places of safety for people detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Mr Nick Hurd: Places of safety are defined in the Mental Health Act 1983 and include hospitals, care homes for mentally disordered persons, police stations, specified local service authority residential accommodation and any other suitable place the occupier of which is willing temporarily to receive the patient.Specific guidance to police officers on the availability of places of safety in their areas is a local matter. Local partnerships should have established policy or protocols on the use of section 135 and 136 powers and the operation of agreed places of safety in the area, as specified in the Mental Health Act Code of Practice. Decisions on the most appropriate place of safety in individual cases may also be supported by joint police and mental health worker schemes, such as ‘street triage’, where these are in operation.

Police: South Yorkshire

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police actions were made related to moped use in (a) Barnsley East and (b) South Yorkshire in each of the last two years.

Mr Nick Hurd: The requested information is not held centrally. The way that South Yorkshire Police enforces road traffic law and deploys its available resources are the responsibility of the Chief Constable, taking into account the specific local problems and demands faced by the force.

Crime: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce the incidence of motorcycle and moped crime in London.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office is currently in discussion with the Metropolitan Police about the problem of motorcycle and moped crime and will look very carefully at the evidence on what more can be done to prevent it.

Police: Powers

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will give the police powers to recover costs from landlords in cases where the police are repeatedly required to deal with drug-related issues at the same premises.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Government has no plans to provide the police with special powers to levy charges in these circumstances.

Safer Neighbourhood Teams

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what effect changes in the size and capacity of Police Safer Neighbourhood teams in England and Wales has had on their capacity to collect intelligence on (a) extremist behaviour and (b) gang crime.

Mr Nick Hurd: Decisions on the size and composition of the workforce including Safer Neighbourhood teams are for the local Chief Constable and the directly accountable Police and Crime Commissioner of each force. It is up to them to decide what the most effective deployment of their resources may be in tackling gang crime and extremist behaviour.

Firearms: Licensing

Deidre  Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to increase the fees for firearms licences to ensure that the cost of administering the system is covered by the charges.

Mr Nick Hurd: Fees for firearm and shotgun licences administered by the police were last increased in 2015 so that more of the cost of licensing would be recovered. The fees are currently being reviewed.The Government introduced measures, through the Policing and Crime Act 2017, to enable new fees for firearm licences administered by the Home Office and Scottish Government to be set on a cost recovery basis. These were the subject of a public consultation which ran from 12 January to 9 March. We are carefully considering the responses.

Arrests

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 25 April 2017 to Question 71424, whether she has assessed the potential merits of linking data on arrests to prosecution and conviction data.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office reviews the data it collects from the police under the Annual Data Requirement on an annual basis, balancing demands for data with the burden of collecting data on the police. The Home Office is presently working with police forces in England and Wales to implement a record level data collection for police recorded crime. This will allow us to investigate linking between the police recorded crime data held by the Home Office and the prosecution and conviction data held by the Ministry of Justice in order to create a richer dataset for analysis. The arrests data that the Home Office collects from police forces is at the aggregate level rather than record level. Collecting record level data from the police for arrests would result in considerable additional burden on the police and is not currently planned.

101 Calls

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the 101 police non-emergency telephone number in reducing public demand on the emergency 999 telephone number.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Ipsos Mori survey for HMIC “Public views of policing in England and Wales 2016/17” published on 20 July 2017 shows that: people are most likely to call 999 for crimes/incidents against the person; there is a balance between 999 and 101 for property-related incidents; while for online incidents, anti-social behaviour and updates on previous incidents, 101 is the most likely choice.

Police: Finance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 26 April 2017 to Question 71274, what process her Department follows to distribute funds from the Police Transformation Fund to police forces in England and Wales.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Police Reform and Transformation Board (PRTB), whose membership is taken from across policing including Police and Crime Commissioners and Chiefs Constables, through a police-led process makes recommendations to the Home Secretary on forces’ bids for the Police Transformation Fund (PTF). The Home Office carries out an assurance exercise before the Home Secretary makes final decisions on funding.

Domestic Violence

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 27 April 2017 to Question 71878, on domestic violence, what steps she is taking to address the number of interviews conducted by telephone.

Mr Nick Hurd: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary has recommended that this practice be stopped. The Home Secretary chairs a National Oversight Group to drive a culture change in the police response by ensuring findings from HMIC inspections into domestic abuse are acted upon. HMIC is committed to continuing to inspect the police’s response to domestic abuse and will report on how police forces are responding to its findings.The Government has also announced it will bring forward a Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill that will transform the response to domestic abuse.

Police: Finance

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will increase the level of the one per cent rule applied to the Police Special Grant.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Government has no plans to increase the one per cent threshold set out in Special Grant guidance.

Police Community Support Officers:  Keighley

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police community support officers there were in Keighley constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office collects and publishes statistics on the number of police community support officers employed by each police force in England and Wales on a bi-annual basis. These data are published in the ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletins, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-31-march-2017 The Home Office does not collect this information by constituency. Data on the number of police community support officers in West Yorkshire, as at 31 March each year, can be found in the accompanying Open Data Table: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/629362/open-data-table-police-workforce.ods

Immigration Controls

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to review the minimum income requirements for non-EEA family members.

Brandon Lewis: The Supreme Court has upheld the lawfulness of the minimum income requirement for spouse visas, which prevents burdens on the taxpayer and promotes integration. The Supreme Court agreed that it strikes a fair balance between the interests of those wishing to sponsor a spouse to settle in the UK and of the community in general.

HM Treasury

Public Sector: Pay

John McDonnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what distributional analysis his Department has carried out on the public sector pay cap; and if he will place in the Library a copy of that analysis.

Elizabeth Truss: It is the responsibility of the relevant departments to consider how to distribute the funds available for their annual pay awards.

State Retirement Pensions

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of maintaining the triple-lock pension after 2020.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government is committed to ensuring economic security for people at every stage of their life, including when they reach retirement. The Government is also clear that fairness between the generations must be maintained. We are committed to the Triple Lock for the remainder of this Parliament. Details of the costs associated with the maintaining of the triple-lock after 2020 can be obtained from the Office for Budget Responsibility’s “Fiscal Sustainability Report 2017” which is available at the following link: http://cdn.budgetresponsibility.org.uk/FSR_Jan17.pdf

Public Sector: Pay

John McDonnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of pay of public sector workers since 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government’s pay policy has always been designed to strike the right balance between being fair to public servants and being fair to all those, including public sector workers themselves, whose taxes pay for them. That approach has not changed, and the Government continually assesses that careful balance. The current assessment is that salaries in the public sector are, on average, comparable to those in the private sector with the additional benefit of higher pension entitlements in many cases. Further details were made available in the House libraries in response to a written question from the Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 19 July 2017.

Public Expenditure: Northern Ireland

John McDonnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the £1bn of additional financial support allocated to Northern Ireland announced in the Government policy paper UK government financial support for Northern Ireland will be funded through (a) additional borrowing, (b) further spending cuts and (c) tax rises.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government routinely makes adjustments to public spending throughout the year and will deal with the cost of additional resources for the Northern Ireland Executive within our overall plans in this way. At the Budget we will set out the latest allocations for departments and the Devolved Administrations. This is routine practice.

Public Sector: Pay

John McDonnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what equality impact assessment on gender and other protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 his Department has undertaken with regards to the public sector pay cap; and how it has affected the remit of pay review bodies.

Elizabeth Truss: In line with their duties under equalities legislation, Ministers fully considered equalities impacts and implications when setting the Government’s pay policy. The remit of the Pay Review Bodies continues to be to provide evidence-based advice to help the government achieve the right balance between being fair to public servants and being fair to all those, including public sector workers themselves, whose taxes pay for them.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the total cost of the second phase of High Speed 2 from Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds.

Elizabeth Truss: At the 2015 Spending Review, the Government set a funding envelope for High Speed 2 Phase Two of £28.55bn in 2015 prices

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the total cost of High Speed 2.

Elizabeth Truss: At the 2015 Spending Review, the Government restated the long-term funding envelope for delivery of the full High Speed 2 scheme of £55.7bn in 2015 prices.

Insurance

David Linden: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2017 to Question 3386, when he expects to conclude his assessment; and if he plans to publish a report based on that assessment.

Stephen Barclay: The discussions on which the Treasury’s analysis of firms’ plans are based will continue until and beyond exit date. The Treasury has undertaken not to publish information shared by firms in confidence.

Health Insurance: Fees and Charges

Julian Knight: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure insurance companies do not increase premiums for patients with existing conditions for which the treatment is covered by the European Health Insurance Card.

Stephen Barclay: As recently set out in the UK’s policy paper on citizens' rights, “Safeguarding the position of EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU”, the UK will seek membership of the European Health Insurance Card scheme in a reciprocal deal. The government does not prescribe the terms, conditions or price that insurance companies may set when offering insurance. Nor does it intervene in the decisions of insurance companies when determining whether to provide cover. However, the government is determined that insurers treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules. The FCA sets the standards required of insurance firms to ensure consumers are treated fairly.

Department for International Trade

Developing Countries: Overseas Trade

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the Answer of 21 April 2017 to Question 70330, on developing countries: overseas trade, if he will publish an interim report of the ongoing review of the UK's future trade policy.

Greg Hands: The Government will bring forward a paper on trade policy ahead of trade legislation in this parliamentary session. It will set out the Government’s emerging approach to developing an independent UK trade policy, including our trade with developing countries. The Department for International Trade and the Department for International Development will continue to work together on trade to maximise the opportunities for countries to trade their way out of poverty.

Department for International Trade: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the potential number of Acts or parts of Acts that will be subject to repeal as a result of provisions in the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.

Greg Hands: The Department for International Trade has been analysing the UK statute book and directly applicable EU law in its area of responsibility to enable an assessment of the scale of the changes needed. This is likely to include the repeal, but also the amendment, of provisions in Acts but we are not in a position to give a sense of scale at this time.In the Government White Paper on the Repeal Bill [‘Legislating for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union’], published on 30 March 2017, the Department for Exiting the European Union estimated around 800 - 1,000 EU-exit related Statutory Instruments will be required.

Department for International Trade: Welsh Language

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which of his Department's online services are available in the Welsh language only on request.

Greg Hands: The Government is committed to ensuring that the needs of Welsh language speakers are recognised and met, in accordance with the requirements of departmental Welsh Language Schemes.

Overseas Trade: India

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on the possibility of a future trading relationship and the issue of immigration.

Greg Hands: India is an important trading partner. Ministers and officials in the Department for International Trade are working closely with their Indian counterparts and have discussed all aspects of our trade relationship.As part of my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade’s visit to India in November 2016, we announced a joint trade review with India. This analytical project is evaluating the range of ways we can strengthen the UK-India trade relationship and remove barriers, both at present and as we leave the EU.

Department of Health

Ataxia

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to support those diagnosed with Ataxia.

Steve Brine: Ataxia can be the result of a hereditary condition (the most common being Friedreich's ataxia), it can be acquired through brain injury or neurological disease and may also result from a condition called idiopathic late-onset cerebellar ataxia. Certain disorders can also cause ataxia in people for short periods of time.The treatment and support patients of people living with the condition will need will depend on the type of ataxia, the severity of symptoms and level of independence and patients’ needs, which should be assessed on a case by case basis. Subject to assessment, treatment may include pharmacological treatment to reduce and manage symptoms, physiotherapy, and speech and language therapy and psychological support.Whilst much of the treatment will be provided by local NHS commissioners, some patients may need access to specialised services, commissioned by NHS England. This may be because they have high levels of need or require a particular treatment, though in the case of ataxia telangiectasia, NHS England commissions services specifically for this condition because of its rarity and the complexity of symptoms.

Department of Health: Contracts

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the amount his Department has spent on private contract providers in each of the last five years.

Mr Philip Dunne: Detail of spend by the Department over the last five years on ‘Private Contractors’, which we interpret as: consultants, other self-employed contractors and private sector companies, is shown in the following table. Financial YearCore Department of Health Invoice Spend on Private Contractors2012/13£463,612,7812013/14£311,822,6372014/15£219,913,3552015/16£228,959,2282016/17£260,649,099 This data is derived from categories within the Department’s Bravo Spend Analytics system.

Smoking

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to fund tobacco cessation services during this Parliament.

Steve Brine: Smoking cessation services are a key part of the Government’s tobacco control strategy which is outlined in the recently published tobacco control plan. Councils will receive £16 billion of public health funding between 2016 and 2021 to provide vital services for their local population including smoking cessation services. Funding plans beyond 2021 will be the subject of a new Spending Review.

Pharmacy

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to encourage choice of pharmacy at the point of an electronic prescription being issued.

Steve Brine: At the moment, only patients who have nominated a dispenser (community pharmacy or dispensing appliance contractor) of their choice are able to use the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS). Patients are informed about EPS, its benefits and are encouraged to use the service by both their general practitioner practices and dispensers. Patients are free to change their mind and nominate a different pharmacy or remove their nomination at any point. The next phase (Phase 4) of EPS will provide patients with a barcode that they can present to any pharmacy of their choice without needing to nominate in advance – thereby giving the patient complete choice of pharmacy. NHS Digital plans to pilot Phase 4 in April next year subject to the agreement of changes to prescribing and dispensing legislation.

Pharmacy

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much public funding pharmacies have received for providing (a) essential and (b) advanced services in each year since 2007-08 in (i) England and (ii) each local authority area.

Steve Brine: The fees and allowances paid under the community pharmacy contractual framework for essential and advanced services provided by community pharmacies each year from April 2011 to May 2017 are detailed in the table below. This is based on NHS Business Services Authority data, which in line with their records management policy is only available for six financial years plus the current year. These payments do not include the medicine margin community pharmacies are allowed to earn as part of the payment for essential services, which is paid through reimbursement within the drugs’ bill. Time PeriodEssential Services Fees and Allowances1 (£)Advanced Services Fees2 (£)2011/121,864,457,518.0978,082,359.622012/131,847,685,380.9296,603,659.092013/141,908,705,835.81105,000,556.122014/151,895,070,668.01108,034,310.822015/161,881,141,079.50112,536,351.892016/171,752,244,281.27115,311,548.44April – May 2017254,235,060.5819,263,189.52Total11,403,539,824.18634,831,975.50 Notes:1This comprises the fees and allowances paid under Part IIIA: Professional Fees (Pharmacy Contractors) and Part VIA: Payment for Essential Services (Pharmacy Contractors) of the Drug Tariff.2 This comprises the fees paid to pharmacy contractors under Part VIC: Advanced Services (Pharmacy and Appliance Contractors)(England) of the Drug Tariff with the exception of the Community Pharmacy Seasonal Flu Vaccination Advanced Service and the NHS Urgent Medicine Supply Advanced Service pilot scheme, which are separately funded by NHS England. Essential and advanced services under the community pharmacy contractual framework are commissioned and funded by the National Health Service, rather than local authorities. A breakdown of fees and allowances paid for essential and advanced services provided by community pharmacies by NHS England Area from April 2013 (when NHS England was established) to May 2017 is detailed in the table below:  April 2013 – May 2017NHS England AreaEssential Services Fees and Allowances1 (£)Advanced Services Fees2 (£)Arden, Hereford and Worcester227,173,105.8712,471,806.00Bath, Gloucester, Swindon and Wiltshire194,264,861.1610,698,397.64Birmingham and the Black Country382,048,149.3024,479,481.00Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset and South Gloucester203,844,336.5912,535,700.84Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral196,741,140.5111,818,010.92Cumbria, Northumbria, Tyne and Wear346,096,424.5416,101,508.76Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire280,954,214.4017,394,417.84Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly243,978,967.4814,688,545.28Durham, Darlington and Tees228,795,999.179,639,507.48East Anglia310,112,463.5718,804,613.20Essex237,137,272.0314,470,338.40Greater Manchester468,751,127.4027,327,097.22Hertfordshire and South Midlands359,111,434.9822,494,201.30Kent and Medway237,213,904.6214,107,079.36Lancashire263,368,765.0415,234,732.32Leicestershire and Lincolnshire249,852,782.6514,583,791.92Merseyside227,811,833.1912,899,454.56North East London384,832,821.8626,726,691.28North West London248,519,307.3217,040,248.44North Yorkshire and Humber245,869,738.1613,235,273.20Shropshire and Staffordshire235,256,866.3613,260,886.28South London358,363,508.7325,058,335.56South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw266,634,566.9815,480,457.12Surrey and Sussex341,873,405.6123,686,281.31Thames Valley222,827,674.6814,298,715.56Wessex347,383,720.2521,493,894.92West Yorkshire382,578,532.7220,116,489.08Total7,691,396,925.17460,145,956.79 Notes:1This comprises the fees and allowances paid under Part IIIA: Professional Fees (Pharmacy Contractors) and Part VIA: Payment for Essential Services (Pharmacy Contractors) of the Drug Tariff. The medicine margin community pharmacies are allowed to earn as part of the payment for essential services, which is paid through reimbursement within the drugs’ bill, is not included. 2This comprises the fees paid to pharmacy contractors under Part VIC: Advanced Services (Pharmacy and Appliance Contractors)(England) of the Drug Tariff with the exception of the Community Pharmacy Seasonal Flu Vaccination Advanced Service and the NHS Urgent Medicine Supply Advanced Service pilot scheme, which are separately funded by NHS England. A more detailed breakdown of fees and allowances paid for essential and advanced services provided by community pharmacies by NHS England Area from April 2013 to May 2017 is attached. 



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Allergies

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department provides to clinical commissioning groups on the allergy quality standard.

Steve Brine: The Department provides no specific advice to clinical commissioning groups about either the Drug Allergy Quality Standard, published in July 2015, or the Food Allergy Quality Standard, published in March 2016. Quality Standards, published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are important in setting out to patients, the public, commissioners and providers what a high quality service should look like in a particular area of care. Quality standards are based on NICE guidance and other NICE-accredited sources and NHS England promotes their use in local service delivery. National Health Service organisations must have regard to NICE Quality Standards in planning and delivering services as part of a general duty to secure continuous improvement in quality. However, the quality standards do not provide a comprehensive service specification and are not mandatory.

Propranolol: Prescriptions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prescriptions for Propranolol were issued in each year since 2010 by type of diagnosis.

Steve Brine: We are unable to provide the information requested by type of diagnosis. Information is available from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system, regarding the number of prescription items for propranolol hydrochloride written in the United Kingdom and dispensed in the community in England, for the years 2010 to 2016. Number of prescription items of propranolol hydrochloride written in the United Kingdom and dispensed in the community in England, 2010 to 2016 within British National Formulary 2.4 beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs Propranolol Hydrochloride20103,024,99620113,269,32920123,508,28420133,752,97220144,050,36020154,349,50420164,694,616Source: PCA

Rare Diseases

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to enact the UK Strategy for Rare Diseases in England.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Government is committed to the implementation of the UK Strategy for Rare Diseases that sets out a long-term strategic vision for improving the lives of people with rare diseases and conditions.NHS England announced in March 2017 an intention to publish an implementation plan for England setting out its delivery contribution to the UK Strategy for Rare Diseases in 2017/18 as part of the plans for the next steps of the Five Year Forward View. The Department is coordinating the implementation plan for England regarding the non-National Health Service lead commitments in the Strategy also to be published in 2017/18.A progress report on the implementation of the UK Strategy for Rare Diseases was published early in 2016 and a further update will be published in early 2018.

Multiple Sclerosis

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients the NHS is treating for multiple sclerosis.

Steve Brine: This information is not available. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence estimates that multiple sclerosis affects around 100,000 people in the United Kingdom.

Hospital Wards: Gender

Sir David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many breaches of guidance on mixed-sex sleeping arrangements occurred in each of the last six years.

Mr Philip Dunne: All patients deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. The Government has made it clear that providers of National Health Service-funded care are expected to eliminate mixed-sex accommodation, except where this is in the overall best interest of the patient, or reflects their personal choice.In December 2010, the national reporting of breaches in relation to sleeping accommodation commenced and data are collected monthly from all NHS providers and organisations that provide NHS-funded care (including independent and voluntary sector organisations). From April 2011 the collection became mandatory.The numbers of breaches for the last six years are:YearBreaches201134,58920124,40720132,97120142,58520154,25920167,154To July 20175,595

Hospitals: Parking

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to exempt NHS staff from hospital car parking charges when they are at work.

Mr Philip Dunne: National Health Service trusts make decisions locally about the provision of car parking to patients, visitors and staff. Providing car parking results in NHS trusts incurring costs for equipment, signage, lighting, insurance, security, administration and maintenance. Charges are used to cover these costs which would otherwise fall on the provider and would be likely to impact on its provision of clinical care.The Department published clear guidelines (car parking principles) for NHS organisations that they are expected to follow. Hospitals should put concessions in place for those who most need help including disabled people, carers and staff who work shifts. The NHS itself is responsible for ensuring that charges are fairly applied. Patients, visitors and staff who have concerns around problems with car parking should therefore contact the NHS organisation which runs the car park.

Health Visitors: Training

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the size of the training and development budget was for health visitors in England in each of the last five years for which data is available.

Mr Philip Dunne: Health Education England’s budget for training new health visitors from 2013/14 to 2017/18 is set out in the table below.YearBudget (£ million)2017/1828.002016/1736.802015/1644.202014/1522.202013/1431.00Source: Health Education England Ongoing (post-registration) professional development is a matter for individual employers and employees and data on this is not collected.

Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring that UK citizens who (a) are on dialysis and (b) otherwise require healthcare under the European Health Insurance Card system to be arranged for them in the EU before they can travel will be able to continue to receive such care after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Philip Dunne: As long as we are a member of the European Union we will respect the rights and obligations of EU membership, therefore the current arrangements for European Health Insurance Cards remain in place. As recently set out in the United Kingdom’s offer on citizens' rights, “Safeguarding the position of EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU”, in a reciprocal deal, the UK will seek to protect the ability of individuals who are eligible for a UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), before the specified date, to continue to benefit from free, or reduced cost, needs-arising healthcare while on a temporary stay in the EU. The UK will also seek an ongoing arrangement akin to the EHIC scheme as part of negotiations on our future arrangements with the EU.

Fire and Rescue Services: Cancer

Sir Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many fire fighters have developed cancer in the first 10 years after retirement since 1967.

Steve Brine: The Government does not collect or hold any data on firefighters developing cancer after retirement.

Diabetes: Health Education

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are on a Diabetes Education and Self Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed programme.

Steve Brine: This information requested is not held centrally.

Orthopaedics: Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many amputations as a result of diabetic conditions have been performed by the NHS in the last 12 months.

Steve Brine: The most recent data on amputations as a result of diabetic conditions was published in September 2017 here:http://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/diabetes-ft During the three year period of 2013/14 to 2015/16, there were 7,119 major diabetic lower limb-amputation procedures and 18,408 minor diabetic lower limb-amputation procedures.

Cancer: Mental Health Services

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that emotional and mental health support is provided to young people with cancer (a) during and (b) after treatment.

Mr Philip Dunne: In December 2016, NHS England announced that over £200 million would be made available to Cancer Alliances over the next two years to improve earlier diagnosis and support roll out of the Recovery Package and Stratified follow-up pathways. The Recovery Package has been designed so that patients, including young people, receive personalised care and support from the point they are diagnosed to improve their quality of life. This includes a Holistic Needs Assessment to help patients and clinicians assess a patient’s needs and plan appropriately for their care and ongoing support, including emotional and mental health support. Stratified follow-up pathways allow a more personalised approach to follow-up care after treatment, providing a better experience for patients.

General Practitioners: Insurance

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Ministry of Justice's decision to change the personal injury discount rate on the future costs of indemnity insurance for GPs.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Department is aware that the rising cost of indemnity is an area of concern for general practitioners (GPs). The change in the personal injury discount rate announced by the then Lord Chancellor (Elizabeth Truss) in February 2017 has significantly increased the cost of claims. The Department has been assessing the potential effect of the discount rate change by working closely with GPs and Medical Defence Organisations to ensure that appropriate funding is available to meet additional costs to GPs, recognising the crucial role they play in the delivery of National Health Service care.

In Vitro Fertilisation

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many clinical commissioning groups do not meet NICE guidelines for IVF treatment.

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer to the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington of 21 April 2017 to Question 71611, on in vitro fertilisation, what response his Department received from NHS England on commissioning fertility services; and what further action his Department has considered taking on that matter.

Mr Philip Dunne: Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, Medical Director of NHS England, replied to the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Nicola Blackwood) on 25 May 2017. A copy of that reply is attached. The Department will continue to support the programme of work being taken forward by NHS England and stakeholders. The information requested is not collected centrally.



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Cancer: Yoga

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Royal College of Nursing and other professional medical bodies on the potential efficacy of yoga for cancer sufferers.

Steve Brine: We are not aware of any discussions on the potential efficacy of yoga for cancer patients. However, in December 2016, NHS England announced that over £200 million would be made available to Cancer Alliances over the next two years to improve earlier diagnosis and support roll out of the Recovery Package and Stratified follow-up pathways. The Recovery Package has been designed so that patients receive personalised care and support from the point they are diagnosed to improve their quality of life. This includes health and wellbeing events or similar giving patients access to information about complementary therapies and how these may help to facilitate wellbeing. Stratified follow-up pathways allow a more personalised approach to follow-up care after treatment, providing a better experience for patients.

Women and Equalities

Government Equalities Office: Welsh Language

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, which online services provided by her Department are available in the Welsh language on request only.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government is committed to ensuring that the needs of Welsh language speakers are recognised and met, in accordance with the requirements of departmental Welsh Language Schemes. All of the online services provided by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), such as advice and guidance documents that are relevant to Wales, are available in Welsh. The EHRC is working to make all of its online content available in Welsh.

Government Equalities Office: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what estimate her Department has made of the potential number of Acts or parts of Acts that will be subject to repeal as a result of provisions in the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Government departments have been analysing the UK statute book and directly applicable EU law in their areas of responsibility to enable an assessment of the scale of the changes needed. This is likely to include the repeal, but also the amendment, of provisions in Acts but we are not in a position to give a sense of scale at this time. In the Government White Paper on the Repeal Bill, Legislating for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, published on 30 March 2017, we estimated around 800 - 1,000 EU-exit related Statutory Instruments will be required.